“We would love for it to become a staple of the Fourth of July event,” race organizer Mark Bellamy said. “We run the parade route and the runners love that. Where else do they get the opportunity to get a course lined with people? It is a nice community event.”

Last year there were 193 registered runners for the first event.

“Our first goal is we said we would try to double the number of walkers and runners,” Bellamy said. “By adding a new category, ‘rucking,’ we are hoping to highlight our military as well add to our runners.”

Rucking is the category where runners will compete carrying full military packs.

“We would like to cross that $20,000 income level,” Bellamy said, adding last year’s race had a net income of $16,786. We are adding some new sponsors this year and we hope to add to our participants.

“We give out $20,000 each year with our (Michael H. Hay) scholarship program,” he added. “This $20,000 will go into an endowment for future scholarships.”